ninasbuick

I'm currently on a solo tour from New Orleans to Phoenix and will turn north around the Grand Canyon to link up with the Western Express near Cedar City, then head east to Illinois.

I need advice on water purifiers to carry. Which have served you well?

I also need advice on the Western Express route conditions in southern Utah in late April, early May.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!
Nick Poggioli
https://www.ninasbuick.com
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/photobike2011

raybo

Check out this article on water filters and this one on water purification methods.

Check out this article on water stops on Hwy 50 in Nevada.

Ray

xizangstan

What kind of water filter takes ratioactive particles out of the water?

mje

Radioactive particles are atoms or ions of particular elements. You can't easily separate the radioactive isotopes from the nonradioactive isotopes (if any), so you need to try to remove the element entirely. If the element is insoluble, just allowing suspended particles in the water to settle may be sufficient. If soluble, you'd need some chemistry to know what to add to form an insoluble compound that will precipitate.

NoGaBiker

A little radioactivity never hurt anyone. Just ask a submariner.

Southern Utah should be pretty warm in late April, even at elevation. I've spent a lot of time there cyclotouring and backpacking. First week of April tends to be seventies day/fifties at night, at least in my experience in the Escalante Staircase, Moab, Hanksville, Canyonlands areas. But temps start climbing quickly as early-spring morphs into late spring.

Tourist in MSN

Why are you looking to buy a filter? Different filters and purifiers have different characteristics, you need to know what the risk is that you are trying to avoid.

I use a ceramic filter that also has an activated carbon filter. Expensive and heavy. But, if my concern was for viruses, I would have to use different or additional equipment or chemicals.


Error. Submariners are shielded from a lot of the radioactivity from the sun by several hundred feet of water. Any radioactivity from the propulsion system and/or weapons is tiny compared to the radioactivity from the sun due to internal shielding.

NoGaBiker

You must not be aware of the presence of uranium and plutonium in the ground in southern Utah. This is what the OP is trying to guard against with his water filter. Not the sun's rays, which would seem to be impervious to even the most efficient water filter.

Cyclebum

Get yourself a particle filter(panty hose or coffee filter wll do)and purify with tabs, or boiling. Simple, cheap, and effective.

Cyclesafe

I have been on the Western Express through Utah. Names like "Poison Creek" kinda indicate that the water is a little sketchy. Water filters do nothing for heavy metals, radioactive or not, so when traveling through "badlands" carry water, don't think about filtering. Glen Canyon Reservoir can be filtered from, but when I was there in June 2009 there was a store where water could be purchased. You get alot of bad advice in this forum, but you'll be OK if you use your noggin. If plants aren't growing around a water source, there's a reason for it.

gorshkov

The radioactivity of the uranium (plutonium does not occur naturally) is not really a problem, but it is a highly toxic heavy metal apart from the radiation. But the most dangerous poison that you are likely to find in water sources in Utah is arsenic. One tip that I have heard (from Edward Abbey; I haven't actually filtered water in Utah, and would use the filter only as a last resort) is to see how much vegetation is growing around the spring/stream that you find. If the water is crystal-clear, that indicates that there is arsenic and probably other poisons present. If there is pond scum and algae in the water, its probably OK to filter.

Tourist in MSN

I was commenting on your implication that submariners are exposed to high levels of radiation.

The original question said nothing about radioactivity.

ninasbuick

Thanks for the advice, all. I think I'll go with tabs as a last resort and try to carry enough water to get me through each day's ride or each stretch of days without services.

NoGaBiker, I didn't realize it would be that warm. Maybe I'll be able to offload some of my warm clothing when I get there!

eofelis 

For my camping and backpacking in southern Utah I use my Sweetwater filter. It is easy to clean in the field when water is silty, which it often is in the high desert. I don't use the filter much on bike touring as I'm not above asking passing motorists if they have extra water. There will be a moderate amount of traffic on the roads.

Spring tends to be quite windy on the Colorado Plateau. Last April we tried to do a big tour from Grand Junction, CO, down around southern UT. We planned on a 1200 mile loop back to GJ. We made it 250 miles (Monticello, UT) before wild south winds (headwinds) and snow forced us to call for a car ride home.

eofelis 

Are you coming through western Colorado? I have toured and/or driven many of the roads in southwestern Colorado and can offer advice on routes.
We are also on warmshowers or you can PM me.